Ahhhhhh!

While working on my trusty, beloved desktop this afternoon, it just turned itself off. Then it wouldn't reboot. Three times. So I am working on Liesl's old laptop (so glad to have it, even though it's 6 years old), but the power cord isn't working, so I'm on borrowed time here.

Maybe Hal will make it all better when he gets home from his 12-hour day at work.....

addendum: When Hal came home, he just turned on my desktop, and it's working fine. However, Liesl's old laptop is now nearly dead.....

Fresh Vegetables

While I wait for the vegetables to grow in my garden, I can always go to the Farmer's Market on Sundays after church. Yesterday I bought tomatoes, zucchini, baby eggplants, and asparagus. I made some homemade pasta sauce with the first three ingredients and put it over cheese tortellini. The asparagus went on the side. It was delicious, and there's enough left over for pasta tonight. It will be fun cooking from my garden AND having Claire at home this summer to work with me!

Unlease Your Inner Pollock

For a little diversion, I sometimes try jacksonpollock.org. Here is one of my creations!

Fencing

Today we are thinking about several panels of privacy fencing between our house and the cottage. I like this kind of "good neighbor" design with the boards on either side. We went to the fence store and talked with the man who builds such things, and are contemplating just exactly what it is we want before we have him build them for us.

Spring Training

Ahhhh....The first softball game of the season! The Carleton Knights have been in So. Cal. this week for spring break/spring training. Their final game was this afternoon against the CMS Athenas, here in Claremont. For some reason, one of my classes and my afternoon lesson were cancelled this afternoon, so I was able to enjoy the sunshine and watch a game.

Claire's Take on Spring Break

Claire has put up new pictures on her site, most from spring break last week. Here is yet another gelato shot - this one from Perugia.

Fighting Photosynthesis, an Uphill Climb

You go away for 10 days, and see what happens in the yard! Here are the before and after pics of my weeding today. I only scratched the surface - so many more weeds in the yard!

Further and Random Thoughts on Italy

• Game shows on TV: We enjoyed watching the Italian versions of Wheel of Fortune and Who Wants to Be a Millionaire. Especially with Millionaire, we had Claire help us with some of the language, and occasionally we got an answer right!
• Driving in Italy: I was warned that Italians drive like maniacs, but I found the roadways no worse than LA traffic, and probably a little better than Boston driving. With the exception of Rome, we heard very few car horns.
• I must learn how to make really good spaghetti. I never realized how much it can be an art form.
• The most important words you can learn in any language are "please" and "thank you."
• Eat some gelato every day.
• I wonder if all B & Bs are "self-help." After checking in, we never saw our hosts, nor signs that they entered our room. That was fine by me, but surprising.

Easing Back into Life

I'm pretty tired, even though I slept almost 7 hours last night in my own bed. It's just that we had that 32 hour day yesterday. At least I got to finish a book on the long flights. I had picked up Anne Tyler's Ladder of Years at a thrift store before I went. I had especially enjoyed her Accidental Tourist and several others of hers, but this one didn't live up to my expectations. At least it kept me occupied.

Now I have to finish laundry, grocery shop, organize photos and get them on my picture site, make sure I'm ready to teach this afternoon!

Traveling Home

It took us 23 1/2 hours door to door to get home. Our last meal in Rome happened at the Termini train station - breakfast of a pastry and a cappuccino at the Autostrade cafe.

Both flights were on time, but flying in an Airbus 333 is the most crowded and cramped I have been on a flight, and 9 1/2 hours on that one was about all I could take.

We made it home by 10:30, and I was soon in deep sleep.